Foldable backstop down-lock means



Sept. 16, 1969 MILLER ET AL FOLDABLE BACKSTOP DOWN-LOCK MEANS 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 1. 1966 Sept. 16, 1969 J. N. MILLER ETFOLDABLE BACKSTOP DOWN-LOCK MEANS Filed Aug. 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmew/v25.- J05Pll /V. Iii/LL52 M w, s 27 Z cram E W P #M v 3 UnitedStates Patent FOLDABLE BACKSTOP DOWN-LOCK MEANS Joseph N. Miller,Overland, and Arthur G. Harbaugh,

St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Jackes-Evaus Manufacturing Company, St.Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No.569,146

Int. Cl. A63b 67/00 US. Cl. 273-15 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afolding support for a backstop including vertical supports and angularlyextending braces. Locking means including a cam acting against a cammingsurface on the braces secures the support and braces when the backstopis positioned for play and biases the support and braces to rigidify theconnection. The locking means is weighted for automatic locking andbiasing, with release effected automatically by pulling on the hoistingcable.

This invention relates to improvements in backstop folding mechanism andis especially related to foldable backstop down-lock means.

A problem heretofore prevalent in foldable backstop mechanisms forbasketball goals has been the retention of an accurate extended positionfor the backstop so that the backboard will be in true vertical positionand the goal in a true horizontal position. It has also been a problemof controlling vibration in the backboard and the backstop foldingmechanism, particularly under the impact or repeated drumming of abasketball against the backboard.

The present invention is directed to foldable backstop down-lock meanswhich will provide a secure and accurate retention of the backstop inits unfolded playing position.

The invention is also directed to the provision of a simple lockingmechanism which will effectively retain the backstop in playing positionand still permit the hoisting cable to, be withdrawn from the playingarea above the goal.

The invention is also directed to the improvement in a foldable backstoplock-down means of simple locking elements which will respond to theactuation of the hoisting cable for first unlocking the backstop priorto moving it to folded position and which will automatically return tolocked position upon the backstop attaining its unfolded or playingposition.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in thefollowing specification of a preferred embodiment, having reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the backstop in its unfoldedposition with the down-lock means in its normal locking position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view as seen along line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at line3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view similar to the view ofFIG. 2, but showing certain portions thereof on a larger scale.

Referring to the disclosure in FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that thebackstop mechanism includes a pair of drop pipes which are connected byfirst hinge means 11 to complementary hinge means 12 carried by suitableclamps 13 that support the drop pipe 10 from overhead cross members 14.The drop pipes 10 are braced at the rear by a pair of pipe means 15which are similarly hingedly connected to an over-head cross support 16by means of 3,467,377 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 "ice clamp 17 having firsthinge means 18 connected to complementary hinge means 19. The latterhinge means being secured to the upper ends of the brace pipes 15.Adjacent the lower ends of the parallel drop pipes 10 there is suitablysupported a backboard 20 which is mounted by suitable brackets 21 toclamps 22 that engage the lower end of the drop pipes in the mannershown. The backboard 20 carries a goal structure 23.

In order to permit folding of the backstop mechanism each of the droppipes 10 is provided with a slide shaft 24 having its upper endsupported by a bracket 25 secured to the drop pipe 10 by a clamp 26. Thelower end of the slide shaft 24 is similarly supported by a bracket 27secured to the adjacent pipe 10 by a clamp 28. The slide shafts 24, asshown in FIG. 2, are each provided with a slide fitting or sleeve 29which, in turn, is provided with hinge arm 30 that provides the hingepoint for the lower end of one of the brace pipes 15. Thus, as the droppipes 10 are folded forwardly, or to the left (as seen in FIG. 1), theslide fittings or sleeves 29 slide upwardly on the slide rods 24 from aposition adjacent the brackets 27 toward a position adjacent the upperbrackets 25. Adjustment of the vertical position of the drop pipe 10 isobtained by means of an adjust nut 31 threadedly connected to the slidefitting 29, and positioned to abut the upper flat surface of the bracket27. Thus, as the backboard 20 reaches its truly vertical position eachadjust nut 31 should engage the upper surface of its adjacent bracket27. There is easily provided in this manner individual adjustment of thedrop pipes 10 so that positive simultaneous engagement can be obtainedbetween the nuts 31 and the brackets 27 for assuring verticalpositioning of the backboard 20.

The foldable backstop mechanism may be moved by a suitable hoistingarrangement in which there is a manual winch 32 provided with a handcrank 33 for operating a reel (not shown) within the casing for thewinch 32. The reel is connected to a cable 34 which passes upwardlyalong an adjacent wall of the playing arena to an overhead pulley 35where it is reeved over the pulley and to a second pulley 36 which issupported on a ceiling supported cross member 37 by a suitable clamp 38.The cable 34 runs from the last mentioned pulley 36 to an actuatorelement 39 where it is anchored through an opening or eye 40. Theelement 39 is pivotally mounted on element 39a supported in a bracket 41which is mounted by a suitable clamp 42 to a horizontal brace 43interconnecting the drop pipes 10 at a point just above and behind thebackboard 20. When the backstop is in its playing position the cable 34is played out from the winch 32 so that a slack take-up spring 44 canretract the cable into a pulled up position away from the area above thebackboard 20. The retraction action of the spring 44 on the cable 34 isshown in the full line view in FIG. 1, while the broken line position ofcable 34 shows it in tension. It is, of course, understood that a motordriven winch may be substituted for the hand cranked winch 32 withoutchanging the operation of the mechanism.

In FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 it can be seen that the latch means for the backstophas the actuator element 39 connected to one end of a link 46 such thatthe link 46 will be responsive to the tensioning or pull of the cable34. The lower en of the link 46 is pivotally connected to a clevis 47which is secured midway of or at the balance point between the oppositeends of a shaft 48. Each opposite end of the shaft 48 is provided withanother link or arm 49 which extends to the same side of the shaft 48 atapproximately to the direction of extension of the arm 47. The arms 49together support the shaft 48 by being welded or otherwise secured tocooperating locking cam elements 50. Each cam element 50 has one endconnected by pivoted means 51 to an adjacent bracket 52, while theopposite end is formed with a cam surface 53 (FIG. 3) that engages a lug54 secured to an adjacent part of the bracket that is attached to theslide fittting 29. Each bracket 52 consists of an angle iron having twoportions 55 secured to upper and lower clamps 56 and 57 respec tively.The latch means is seen to be mounted eccentrically relative to thepivot means 51 and this establishes the weighted elfect which normallycauses the cam elements 50 to seek an abutted engagement on the lugs 54.

The foregoing description relates to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. It can be appreciated from what has been disclosedthat with the backstop in its playing position, a pull on the cable 34will move the actuator element 39 from its at rest position shown infull line (FIG. 3) to its actuated position (broken line) whereby thelink 46 will be caused to rise and swing the shaft 48 and the attachedarms 47 and 49 about the pivot elements 51 so that the ends 53 of thelocking cams will be withdrawn from the lugs 54. When this occurs theslide fittings 29 will then be free to move upwardly on the slide shafts24, thereby conditioning the backstop mechanism for folding intoitsretracted position. It can also be appreciated that when a load isplaced on the cable 34 one of the first components to respond will bethe take-up spring 44, and this is easily overcome because of itsloading versus elongation characteristics.

When reversing the operation to lower the backstop to its playingposition it can be appreciated that as the drop pipes 10 reach thevertical position the actuator element 39 will be forced by the combinedweight of the link 46, cross shaft 48 and arms 47 and 49 to pivotdownwardly so that the eye is no longer above the point of pivot 39a ofthe actuator element 39, as it would be with tension on the cable 34. Itis preferred that the weight of the parts 46, 47, 48 and 49 should begreater than the pull exerted by spring 44 even when extended by reasonof the straightening out of the cable 34. A safety spring 58 is providedat each of the arms 49 so as to maintain a small force on the lockingmeans to force the cam elements in locked position. Normally the safetyspring 58 would not be required for the reasons pointed out above.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexamples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure,which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a backstop supporting arrangement wherein a backstop is supportedby generally vertically disposed supporting means, said supporting meanshaving brace means extending angularly from said supporting means toprovide resistance to lateral thrust imposed on said backstop, meansjoining said brace means to said supporting means in a manner to permitsliding relative thereto during movement of said backstop to an out ofplay position, the improvement comprising locking means to secure saidbrace means to said supporting means when said backstop is in a playingposition, said locking means including means to bias said means joiningsaid brace means to said supporting means thereby to lock and rigidifysaid back-.

stop automatically on reaching a playing position.

2. The improvement in backstop arrangements as de-- fined in claim 1wherein said means to join said brace means to said supporting meanscomprises at least one slide rod rigidly joined in spaced and generallyparallel.

relation to said support means, and sleeve means on said brace meansslidable on said slide rod during movement of said backstop to anonplaying position. 1

3. The improvement in backstop arrangements as defined in claim 1wherein said locking means includes a locking lever pivotally mounted onsaid support means, means biasing said locking lever in a direction toengage a part of said brace means to urge it away from said supportmeans, and hoisting means attachable to said locking means and operableto urge said locking lever in a direction opposite that of said meansbiasing said locking lever thereby to cause release of said lockinglever on commencement of hoisting by said hoisting means.

4. A foldable support arrangement for backstops comprising incombination a backstop, a pair of generally vertically disposed supportsadapted for supporting said backstop in playing and nonplayingpositions, said backstop being in a vertical plane over a playing areawhen in said playing position, a brace extending angularly from each ofsaid supports, means joining each of said braces to an associated one ofsaid supports so as to permit relative movement therebetween, lockingmeans to secure each of said braces and the associated support in fixedangular relation, said locking means including means biasing said braceand associated support in a direction to rigidify the same when thebackstop is positioned for play.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said means joining saidbrace to said support includes a slide rod mounted in spaced parallelrelation to said support and sleeve means carried on said brace slidablyreceived on said slide rod to permit folding of said support and braceto move said backstop to a nonplaying position.

' 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said biasing means forming apart of said locking means includes a cam surface on a locking lever,said cam surface acting against a cooperating cam surface carried onsaid brace means to urge said support and brace means in a direction tourge said sleeve tightly against said slide rod for rigidifying.

7. The combination defined in claim 4 including hoisting means to hoistsaid backstop to a nonplaying position, said hoisting means acting toautomatically release said biasing means before hoisting of saidbackstop commences.

8. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said locking meansincludes a locking lever pivotally mounted on each of said supportmeans, said locking lever having a cam surface thereon engageable with acooperating cam surface carried on said brace means and means urgingsaid cam surfaces into tight engagement to bias said brace andassociated support in a direction to rigidify the same when saidbackstop is in a playing position.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said supportarrangement includes hoisting means, said hoisting means being joined tosaid locking lever to rotate it against the force of said means urgingsaid cam surfaces into engagement whereby said locking lever will bereleased from said biasing position on commencement of hoisting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,513,402 10/1924 LaBelle et al2731.5 1,919,494- 7/1933 Albach 273-15 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, PrimaryExaminer P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner

